“With out dismissing folks’s emotions, a colonoscopy is a comparatively small inconvenience in comparison with doubtlessly lacking an early onset colorectal most cancers,” says Dr. Rustgi.
Sometimes, a colonoscopy solely requires in the future off work. “The day earlier than your colonoscopy, you’ll be able to work usually, you’re simply on a restricted food plan, which could imply clear liquids like rooster broth or a small low-fiber breakfast like eggs and white toast,” says Dr. Rustgi.
The prep drink will take about 12 hours, begin to end: You drink the primary half of the laxative the night time earlier than, and end it within the morning. As soon as you’re taking the prep drink, your food plan needs to be clear liquids solely till the process. The process itself is barely 30-45 minutes, and also you’re again to regular actions the next day.
“What I inform folks is, it’s in the future of your life, hopefully no more regularly than as soon as each 10 years to stop colon most cancers,” she says.
There may be additionally no purpose to be embarrassed. Your physique is totally coated in the course of the examination, and your gastroenterologist is concentrated on a monitor displaying the within of your colon. In addition they carry out these procedures regularly.
“It’s not as scary as folks assume, and as soon as folks study extra about it, they understand that,” says Dr. Rustgi. “Probably the most frequent issues my sufferers inform me after their colonoscopy is, ‘That was a lot much less of a giant deal than I assumed it might be. I want I might have executed it sooner.’”

